Thank You Proposition 30 Supporters!

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California state sales tax rates, before and after Proposition 30, compared to the state sales tax rate in 49 others states.

California state income tax rates, before and after Proposition 30, compared to the maximum income tax rate in 49 other states.

Top spenders supporting Proposition 30 tax hikes.  The top two spenders on Proposition 30 are also the top two spenders on California politics in general.  Both are public-sector employee unions as are many of the spenders on Proposition 30 tax hikes.  Many of these groups are also major contributors to the ruling California Democratic Party, another major spender on Proposition 30 tax hikes.

California rated 'F' on Kauffman small business sentiment survey.  California is one of only four states to receive an 'F' rating.  The primary reason cited was "Tax code."

California has the lowest overall state bond credit rating according to a report by the California State Treasurer (#50). Illinois was recently downgraded to below California by Moody's rating agency.

California was ranked the worst-run state government (#50).  The California Legislature has been ruled by the same party, the California Democratic Party for decades and holds nearly 2-to-1 majorities in BOTH Houses.

California was ranked the worst state for business for eight consecutive years (#50) by a nation-wide survey of chief executive officers.  This is the group that decides whether a business stays in California or whether or not to move a business to California.  The primary reason for California's low ranking is our tax structure and governmental regulation--both under the control of our state government.

California was ranked as the state with the least favorable business climate for ten consecutive years (#50).

California's 8th-grade public school students ranked #49 on the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) reading achievement test according to the California Legislative Analysts Office. See "California's State School Rankings Are a Mixed Bag." California has the nation's highest public-school teacher salary and the ranks #49 on student/teacher ratio.

California's 8th-grade public school students ranked #48 on the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) math achievement test according to the California Legislative Analysts Office. See "California's State School Rankings Are a Mixed Bag." California has the nation's highest public-school teacher salary and the ranks #49 on student/teacher ratio.

California ranked #48 on state unemployment--third highest in the nation and well above the national average.  California's unemployment rate remains stubbornly high despite California's fastest-in-the-nation job growth since June 2012.

California ranked #48 on business tax climate and has ranked near the bottom nationally since 2007.

California ranked #47 on state lawsuit climate.

California's 8th-grade public school students ranked #47 on the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) science achievement test. California tied with Alabama and ahead of only Washington, D.C. and Mississippi.  Strangely, Proposition 30 champion Jerry Brown proposed eliminating the 2nd-year California high school requirement in order to save money.

California ranked #47 on economic performance.

California ranked #46 on small business survival.

California ranked #43 on affordable electricity costs--above the national average.

California ranked #42 on high school graduation rates.

California ranked #31 on per student spending in public schools, according to the California Legislative Analysts Office (LAO).  See "California's State School Rankings Are a Mixed Bag." California has the nation's highest public-school teacher salary and the ranks #49 on student/teacher ratio.

California is ranked the #2 most broadly and onerously licensed state for business.

California has the nation's 2nd-highest gasoline and diesel taxes in October 2012.  According to the Legislative Analysts Office (LAO), Proposition 30 will not affect gasoline taxes but will affect diesel taxes.

California has the nation's highest percentage of residents receiving Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) welfare benefits--well above the national average.

California has the nation's largest population and the nation's largest percentage of undocumented immigrants according to the Pew Research Center on Immigration.

The undocumented immigrant population is estimated at 6.7% of the total California population, or about 1 out of every 15 people.

The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) estimates that undocumented immigrants cost California's public school system about $11.27 BILLION annually, or about double the funds provided by Proposition 30 tax hikes.

Questions Abound About the Major Spenders Behind Propositions 30 and 32

I think it's great that the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) is demanding full disclosure for shadowy Americans for Responsible Leadership (ARL).  Let's hope that the FPPC also receives a full disclosure of ALL of the transactions behind the top two spenders in California politics.  California's top two political spenders disclose a portion of their campaign activities.  Other portions fall into "independent expenditures."

QUESTION:  Who are the two biggest spenders in California politics?

According to the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC), the top two spenders in California politics are ...

1. California Teachers Association (CTA)
2. Service Employees International Union (SEIU)

Both are public-sector employee unions.  Employees are paid using taxpayer dollars.  As a union-only state, California's public-sector employee unions enjoy special protections not available to regular taxpayers.

REPORT:  California Fair Political Practices Commission
"Big Money Talks: The 15 Special Interests that Spent $1 Billion to Shape California Government" (March 2010)
http://www.fppc.ca.gov/reports/Report31110.pdf

QUESTION:  Who were the top two spenders on independent expenditure (IE) groups in California politics between 2000-20012?

1. California Teachers Association (CTA)
2. Service Employees International Union (SEIU)

REPORT: California Common Sense
"Independent Expenditures: The New Money in California Politics"
http://cacs.org/images/dynamic/articleAttachments/21.pdf

QUESTION:  Who are the two biggest spenders supporting Proposition 30 tax hikes on all Californians?

According to publicly available campaign disclosures as of 11/4/2012:
http://votersedge.org/california/ballot-measures/2012/november/prop-30/funding

1. California Teachers Association:  $11.7 MILLION
2. Service Employees International Union (SEIU):  $11.4 MILLION

Despite the $11 million contribution from shadowy Americans for Responsible Leadership (ARL), the public sector unions STILL enjoy a major spending advantage.  The unions enjoyed an overwhelming advantage until the donation form ARL and California's Charles Munger in early October.  Be careful not to double-count ARL's and Munger's spending as it goes both to defeating Proposition 30 and to support Proposition 32.

The third largest spender behind Proposition 30 is the California Democratic Party, who receives large contributions from--as you might expect--the California Teachers Association and the Service Employees International Union.

QUESTION:  Who are the two biggest spenders against Proposition 32, which seeks to limit undue influence from corporations and unions in California politics?

According to publicly available campaign disclosures as of 11/4/2012:
http://votersedge.org/california/ballot-measures/2012/november/prop-32/funding

1. California Teachers Association:  $21.2 MILLION
2. Service Employees International Union (SEIU):  $13.6 MILLION

Despite the $11 million contribution from shadowy Americans for Responsible Leadership (ARL), the public sector unions STILL enjoy a major spending advantage.  The unions enjoyed an overwhelming advantage until the donation form ARL and California's Charles Munger in early October.   Be careful not to double-count ARL's and Munger's spending as it goes both to defeating Proposition 30 and to support Proposition 32.

QUESTION:  Who appointed to the leadership of the California Fair Political Practices Commission?

Governor Jerry Brown.

"SacBee: Jerry Brown assumes uncommon influence over FPPC"
http://inlandpolitics.com/blog/2011/07/21/sacbee-jerry-brown-assumes-uncommon-influence-over-fppc/

QUESTION:  Who is the main proponent of Proposition 30?

Governor Jerry Brown.

QUESTION:  Which top political spender in California politics and major spender for Proposition 30 and against Proposition 32 held a private town hall meeting with Governor Jerry Brown on April 20, 2012?

SEIU Local 1000 (Service Employees International Union)

While ARL deserves to be investigated, the Governor and his cronies not blameless either.  Unfortunately, due to who runs Sacramento, both officially and unofficially, I doubt a FULL investigation of all parties will ever happen.

Was the California Senate Censorship of Proposition 30 Intentional? You Decide!

UPDATE:  Pro Tem Steinberg has since apologized for cutting off the cameras.  Please read on to decide if there was more to the decision than he lets on.

As reported in the Sacramento Bee, the Democrat leader in the California Senate, Darrell Steinberg ordered that cameras to the public feed be turned off, just as they were about to discuss Proposition 30.  Proposition 30 is Governor Jerry Brown's tax hike initiative.  Was this such a big deal?  You decide.

• One of the biggest funders supporting Proposition 30 is the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).  According to MapLight, a site that tracks campaign spending, SEIU has spent nearly $6.2 million as of 2-OCT-2012 in support of Proposition 30.  Public television station KCET has a bit more detail, showing contributions from SEIU Local 1000 and the California State Council of Service Employees Issues Committee.

• According to his official biography, Darrell Steinberg was formerly an "attorney for the California State Employees Association for ten years."
• SEIU Local 1000 is an affiliate of the California State Employees Association.
• According to a March 2010 report by California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC), SEIU is the second-largest spender in California politics.
  
• According to his official biography, Darrell Steinberg was the author of 2004's Proposition 63, which asked a simply majority of California voters to impose a 1% surtax on those earning $1 million or more.  Many in California view Proposition 63 as an abuse of the democratic initiative process, and at least one lawsuit was filed claiming that Proposition 63 was an unconstitutional violation of state and federal equal protection clauses.  Some also see Proposition 30 as a similar violation.  To avoid such criticism, Proposition 30 has a FOUR-year sales tax increase that applies to ALL Californians.  The income tax increase only applies to the top 2-3% of California taxes but lasts for SEVEN years.
• If Governor Brown's Proposition 30 passes, Steinberg's Proposition 63 adds another 1% on top.  Combined, Proposition 30 and Proposition 63 would give California the nation's 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th highest state income tax rates in the nation.
  
• SEIU is a major contributor to Darrell Steinberg, Governor Brown, and to the California Democratic Party.  SEIU holds enough political power and sway to justify a private town hall meeting with Governor Jerry Brown.

Based on this evidence, does it appear that Darrell Steinberg has a conflict of interest over any public discussion of Proposition 30?  I think so.  Do I think that Darell Steinberg cut off the cameras to avoid publicly discussing Proposition 30?  Yes, because the more that voters learn about Proposition 30, the less they like it.

It's unlikely that I will ever make enough to be affected by the Proposition 30 tax hikes.  However, I'm smart enough to realize that they're unfair and will likely further poison California's ailing business environment.  My fellow Californians, please VOTE NO on PROPOSITION 30.

http://soquelbythecreek.blogspot.com/2012/07/california-proposition-30-governor.html